May Day, May Day!
Added 2020-05-07 00:21:29 +0000 UTCDear Insane Children,
It kinda snuck up on me and Font Lord so we forgot to mention it but May 1-5 in China was a National Holiday. It's the celebration of Labor Day... though I believe the Chinese holiday is out of sync with what's known as "Labor Day" in other countries around the world (or "Labour Day" if you're into Brit-speak). The origin of the holiday is the same - I think? In any case, the point is...
We just had a 5-day national holiday during which I did take a few (much needed) days off to spend time with Yan and Lucky. Yay! May Day!
So that's "May Day" #1 explained. "May Day" #2 (in the title above) is me calling for HELP from under this pile of neverending things that need to be shipped out. Ahhh! May Day!
Seriously, I appreciate all the support you send our way in the form of orders and add-ons. So don't take what comes next as a real complaint (or as a request to reduce your support). But Boy Oh Boy there's been a LOT of things to pick, sign, pack, label, and ship out of our studio in Shanghai.
The image posted above shows the interface I stare at while handling our fulfillment duties. This is what drives workflow for items shipped directly from my hands - basically anything I need to sign or things that we only produce/ship in limited quantities. Fortunately, when it comes to things like the Enamel Pins (which number in the thousands) we use a fulfillment center where all the pick-pack-send work is done for us.
That's all a long way of explaining why there've been no updates since last week. May Day + May Day = no fingers available to write an update!
The good news is that I am almost finished with all the orders that can be handled these days. Yay! And...
Our Artists are Still Arting
Lots of work getting done on a variety of characters, locations, items, and more...
Jen's been turning mushrooms into weapons.
Let us know what you think of these designs in the comments below!
Joey's turned in a FINAL version of "Snail Posters" - but there's one last step... we need a name for this illustration! Ideas? Crowd Design Time!
Brainstorming here... Is she cuddling that snail? Or using it as part of a spell? Is it an ingredient? Or a muse? From those questions I get the following name ideas:
Creepy Cuddles? Patient Love? The Patient Patients? Cochlea Cuddles? Escargot Cargo?
Helix Hex? Helicaidae Homicide? Murderous Molluscs...
Ok, I'll leave the punning and nonsense to the Insane Children. Let me know in the comments below what you come up with.
One last question... do we want this print offered WITH or WITHOUT the Asylum logo?
For me... if I am going to hang this in my house - and I am - then I think I'd prefer it without?
Again, let us know in the comments below!
And work continues on mapping out Alice's movements and animations. More of that coming soon!
No Live Stream Today
We will NOT have a live stream today. I've simply not had time to set up anything. And I think we're mainly on an every-other-week schedule again?
We WILL have a live stream next week and will go through all the latest design, art, and project updates at that time.
CORE - "Through the Looking Glass" - Art/Design Contest
Last but not least... we've partnered with "CORE" to present a level/art design contest based on locations and illustrations from Alice: Asylum pre-production.
Check out all the details via THIS LINK.
The basic idea is that you create game level content inspired by Alice: Asylum concept artwork. "CORE" is a game development engine geared towards non-technical designers. Their goal is to bring game/level design to the masses. And with this contest, they hope to inspire more people to try out their tech.
My hope in partnering with them is that we will end up with 3D level content in which we can run around. This can be used to illustrate what sections of the Asylum game might look like. Could be a useful sales tool? And the contest could raise awareness of our efforts? So... let's see!
Ok, I have to get back to packing. Really want to knock out these final orders today.
From Shanghai with A Lot'o Escargot,
-American
Comments
Mushroom Bomb and the mushroom gun would be better as a crossbow that shoots mushrooms. Same illustrations and mushrooms, different mechanisms
2020-06-21 08:25:34 +0000 UTCI like the mushroom bomb the best!!
Sarah McKeegan
2020-05-12 18:19:07 +0000 UTCGuns are not Alice, for Alice is about youth and things from home she imagined in a twisted state of mind, peppergrinder, teapot, knife, hobbyhorse. Gun is really reflection of the enemy something from the adult world, Alice would not use in prequel!
2020-05-12 15:24:41 +0000 UTCWhich made me think of Melancholy Mollusc
2020-05-09 20:24:26 +0000 UTCPoster without logo for me, and I like Escargo cargo. Another name suggestion though silly, could be snail impale. I really like Gregory Paraubek's suggestion of Alice and Achatina.
missa8u
2020-05-09 05:57:56 +0000 UTCDont like the idea of alice with a gun
2020-05-08 21:26:40 +0000 UTCI adore the last two mushroom weapons, especially love the luminouse mushroom on the bottle. I would change the amanita mushroom (I personally find them to be to fantasy based) to some other type of fungi. The weapon could be starting to get consumed by moss with spores of chanterelle mushrooms growing.
2020-05-08 11:04:01 +0000 UTCI like the mushroom gun theory but i would like to see more of a sling shot with a hand full of deadly mushrooms in the hands of young Alice. Like the jax from earlier weapons idea. Maybe they can expand on impact. As for the title of the art print, i really like what wendy ja had "Decent Into Madness" it really fits well with Alice's body language. With the title, maybe a little short in height and larger in width, or replace it with the title you guys decide, if it fits appropriately? If the title doesn't appear, will Alice be moved up a little bit more to fill in the space?
2020-05-08 07:01:00 +0000 UTCI think the print should have the logo on it. As far as a name goes....Melancholy Mucus? Do snails have slime or mucus?
Stephanie Groth
2020-05-08 06:11:49 +0000 UTCPerhaps something like "Alice and Achatina" ("Achatina" being the genus of what is scientifically classified as "big-ass snails").
2020-05-08 01:27:36 +0000 UTCThere is something so discomforting about that first mushroom gun weapon thing. I am so in love with Joey’s artwork, that poster is perfection. She just truly captures Alice perfectly every time so consistently. I can’t wait to nab this one when my next 3 month poster option comes up. I love it with or without the logo honestly. Good luck with all your shipping!
2020-05-08 00:15:56 +0000 UTCI 100% agree!
2020-05-07 18:30:11 +0000 UTCI prefer without the logo too, as an art print to hang in your house. Like someone else already mentioned, the logo makes it look more like a poster/add for Alice: Asylum. As for a name, I'm drawing a blank here. There is a sinister look in Alices face, but it seems directed towards the viewer, not the snail, that I imagine her to be caressing (she's an odd girl, seems fitting she'd have an odd pet like a snail. I had a pet snail as a kid called Winnie after my grandmother. Yes, I was an odd kid). Mushroom Gun is cute, Mushroom bomb is okay, not really digging the Morel Gun. At this point, it has to compete with the Lobster Canon, which is the best weapon ever created, and these just aren't as impactful to me.
2020-05-07 14:13:04 +0000 UTCI love the weapons. I think the intent is (or maybe could be?) that you have one gun and get different ammunition types, which is awesome and can allow for different combat or preferred play styles. With the logo makes it seem more like a poster you'd find in a theatre, but I think I would prefer it without the logo for a print. I'd say that Alice has some kind of sinister intent in that print. She has a slight smirk, but there's some disdain/craftiness in her eyes. Maybe it's not a spell component, but she really seems like she's going to use it to do something to whoever/whatever she's looking at. It's almost like she's being the most efficient and creative with whatever she has available to complete whatever task is set before her. Maybe it's called Dangerous by Design, or at least in that vein of thought.
2020-05-07 13:10:22 +0000 UTCPoster without logo for me
2020-05-07 08:41:42 +0000 UTCThe weapons are original, can imagine the first weapon as short-range, or is it meant to ensnare airborne targets? For poster name suggestion: snaily patiency
2020-05-07 08:12:34 +0000 UTCooo..... I like the Exploding Mushroom gun ^_^
Catheryn Alice North
2020-05-07 06:28:26 +0000 UTCAn offer you can't refuse or the godmother come to mind... Lol.
2020-05-07 05:10:38 +0000 UTCSlimy encounter, antenner damnation, echoes of madness
Jessie States
2020-05-07 05:06:38 +0000 UTC"Snails and Wonderland Hell"
2020-05-07 04:49:26 +0000 UTC"State of Conchiousness" I don't mind the logo but think it should be alot smaller so it doesn't overpower the artwork. Maybe tucked in the bottom right or left corner.
2020-05-07 03:23:34 +0000 UTCtbh, I'd prefer the print without the logo. Would look amazing in a gothic looking print frame, the logo would ruin that.
truth_decay
2020-05-07 01:47:35 +0000 UTC'Examining the Cargot'
mckenic
2020-05-07 01:40:24 +0000 UTCHappy you spent some time with the fam. Poster names: Don't Talk To me or My Mullosc. Slimy Intimidation. The Staring Contest.
2020-05-07 01:26:16 +0000 UTCI've always liked the idea of a weapon that shrinks (or grows) enemies. The problem to solve is that it makes the weapon really devastating. And it requires special rules - otherwise, you'd just shrink every boss and finish them in two seconds!
American McGee
2020-05-07 00:58:36 +0000 UTCAs the person who has to "pick & pack" these art prints... I always appreciate names that somewhat relate to what's happening in the image. That way it's easier for me to remember what name goes with what art print. Becoming more of a problem as we continue to add more and more prints to the library!
American McGee
2020-05-07 00:57:40 +0000 UTC1. I'm glad you got to spend time with your family. 2. I love love love the mushroom bomb! 3. Poster idea: Slow Descent
2020-05-07 00:56:42 +0000 UTCThese things ship from different locations at different times. Art prints - I have to sign. Pins - as mentioned in this post - go from our bulk item warehouse. If you have a question about a specific item, please PM US.
American McGee
2020-05-07 00:56:34 +0000 UTCI like the mushroom weapons...the first one is kinda weird thought SUGGEST: a weapon that grows and opponent larger or smaller (possibly randomly)
2020-05-07 00:54:22 +0000 UTCIdea for the poster's name: Snip & Stare
2020-05-07 00:31:45 +0000 UTC1. That morel gun is made of nightmares, and not the cool kind. 2. I think I would prefer the print without the logo, but I also think the nails are still too much for 13 year old in this time period. 3. I think something like "Descent Into Madness" would be a good name for the print, as she looks like she's really losing it.
Wendy Jaa
2020-05-07 00:30:30 +0000 UTC
